Tracing the Echoes: Arabic Influence on the English Language

More than 1,000 English words that come from Arabic origins. Here’s a list of some of them:

English Word	Arabic Origin	Literal Meaning of the Arabic
Admiral	أَمِير البِحَار (amiir al-biHaar)	Commander of the seas
Alchemy	الكِيمْيَاء (al-kiimyaa’)	Chemistry
Alcohol	الكُحُول (al-kuHuul)	Alcohol
Alcove	القُبَّة (al-qubba)	The dome
Algebra	الجَبْر (al-jabr)	The reunion of broken parts
Algorithm	خُوَارِزْمِيَّة (khuwaarizmiyya)	Al-Khwarizmi’s (related to the mathematician Al-Khwarizmi)
Apricot	البَرْقُوق (al-barquuq)	Apricot or plum
Arsenal	دَار الصِنَاعَة (daar aS-Sinaa’a)	House of manufacturing
Artichoke	الخُرْشُوف (al-khurshuuf)	The artichoke
Assassin	الحَشَّاشِين (al-Hashshaashiin)	A secret religious sect known for carrying out assassinations
Aubergine	بَاذِنْجَان (baadhinjaan)	Eggplant
Carat	قِيرَاط (qiiraaT)	A small unit of weight equals 1/24th of the medieval Arabic gold Dinar
Candy	القَنْد (al-qand)	Solidified sugar cane molasses
Cipher	صِفْر (Sifr)	Zero/ empty or nothing
Coffee/ Cafe	قَهْوَة (qahwa)	Coffee from the Turkish “Kahva”
Cotton	قُطْن (quTn)	Cotton
Crimson	قُرْمُزِي (qurmuzii)	Of the color crimson used to dye silk and wool in the medieval era
Elixir	الإكْسِير (al-iksiir)	The elixir, alchemical philosopher’s stone. Was believed to turn metals into gold.
Garble	غَرْبَل (gharbal)	To sift
Gazelle	غَزَال (ghazaal)	Gazelle
Giraffe	زَرَافَة (zaraafa)	Giraffe
Ghoul	غُول (ghuul)	Demon
Guitar	قِيثَارة (qiithaara)	Lyre
Harem	حَرِيم (Hariim)	Sacred or forbidden place where the wives and female servants resided.
Hashish	حَشِيش (Hashiish)	Weed/ grass/ herb
Henna	حِنّاء (Hinnaa’)	Henna (hair dye)
Hummus	حُمُّص (HummuS)	Chickpeas
Ifrit	عِفْريت (‘ifriit)	Powerful or rebellious spirit
Jar	جَرَّة (jarra)	Jar
Jasmine	يَاسْمِين (yaasmiin)	Jasmine
Jinn	جِنّ (jinn)	Genies or spirits
Jumper	جُبَّة (jubba)	Long robe
Kohl	كُحل (kuHl)	A type of fine powder used as eyeliner
Lemon	لَيْمُون (leimuun)	Lemon
Loofah	لِيف (liif)	Fibrous sponge
Lute	العُود (al-‘uud)	Lute (musical instrument)
Magazine	مَخَازِن (makhaazin)	Storehouses
Mattress	مَطْرَح (maTraH)	Place where something is thrown (for sleeping)
Monsoon	مَوْسِم (mawsim)	Season
Mufti	مُفْتِي (muftii)	Islamic legal expert
Muslim	مُسْلِم (muslim)	One who submits (to God)
Mummy	مُومْيَاء (muumyaa’)	Bitumen (used in embalming)
Macabre	مَقابِر (maqaabir)	Graves
Massage	مَسّ (mass)	To touch
Nadir	نَظِير (naZiir)	Opposite
Orange	نَارِنْج (naarinj)	Bitter orange
Ream	رِزْمَة (rizma)	Bundle
Rook	رُخْ (rukh)	Mythical bird or chess piece
Safari	سَفَر (safar)	Journey
Saffron	زَعْفَرَان (za’faraan)	Saffron
Sash	شَاش (shaash)	Fine muslin
Serendipity	سَرَنْدِيب (sarandiib)	Sri Lanka
Sheikh	شَيخ (sheikh)	Elder or chief
Spinach	سَبَانِخ (sabaanikh)	Spinach
Sugar	سُكَّر (sukkar)	Sugar
Sultan	سُلْطَان (sulTaan)	Ruler
Syrup/ Sherbet	شَرَاب (sharaab)	Drink
Tabla	طَبلَة (Tabla)	Drum
Tahini	طَحِينَة (TaHiina)	Ground sesame
Talisman	طِلْسَم (Tilsam)	Magic charm
Tamarind	تَمْر هِنْدِي (tamr hindii)	Indian date
Tariff	تَعْرِيفَة (ta’riifa)	Fee
Tuna	تُنّ (tunn)	Tuna fish
Typhoon	طُوفَان (Tuufaan)	Water flood
Zero	صِفْر (Sifr)	Zero/ empty or nothing

How did these words get here? A Brief History of Arabic Influence.

Arabic influence on the English language is deeply rooted in centuries of cultural exchange and historical interaction.

The Islamic Golden Age & Translation Movement

During the Islamic Golden Age, spanning from the 8th to the 14th century, Arabic flourished as a language of scholarship, innovation, and cultural exchange.

Muslim scholars made significant advancements in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy, producing works that profoundly shaped human knowledge. Cities like Baghdad, Cordoba, and Cairo became renowned centers of learning, attracting scholars from diverse backgrounds to study and share ideas.

Concurrently, Europe was experiencing the Dark Ages, a period marked by political instability, economic decline, and limited intellectual pursuits.

As Islamic civilization thrived, European scholars sought knowledge from Arabic texts, leading to the translation of numerous works into Latin and vernacular languages.

This translation movement, particularly in places like Toledo, Spain, played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting ancient Greek and Roman knowledge, which had been significantly expanded by Muslim scholars.

The Crusades & European Mathematics

The Crusades, beginning in the late 11th century, further facilitated the exchange of ideas between the Islamic world and Europe. Crusaders returning from the Middle East brought back not only stories and goods but also new knowledge and technologies. Arabic numerals, for example, replaced the cumbersome Roman numeral system, revolutionizing European mathematics.

The Silk Road & Global Commerce

Trade and commerce between Europe and the Islamic world were pivotal in this cultural exchange. The Silk Road and other trade routes enabled the flow of goods, ideas, and innovations. The Arabic influence on the English language is evident in words related to trade, such as “tariff,” “sugar,” “cotton,” and “admiral,” which entered European languages. This underscores the significant impact of Arabic on the lexicon of trade and daily life.

The Ottoman Empire & Colonialism

The rise of the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century extended the reach of Islamic culture and scholarship into Southeastern Europe. The Ottomans’ control of key trade routes between Europe and Asia ensured continued knowledge and goods exchange. European travelers, diplomats, and merchants interacting with the Ottoman Empire often brought back new concepts and vocabulary.

Colonialism and exploration in the Middle East and North Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries further integrated Arabic words and ideas into European languages. As European powers established colonies and trading posts, they adopted and adapted local terms. This period saw the introduction of Arabic words into English related to everyday life, science, and technology.

The cumulative impact of these historical interactions is evident in the modern English language. Words such as “alchemy,” “algorithm,” “algebra,” “zenith,” and “nadir” all have Arabic origins, reflecting the profound influence of Arabic scholarship on European intellectual traditions.

Thus, the Arabic influence on the English language can be traced back to this pivotal era of cross-cultural fertilization and intellectual exchange, enriched by the dynamic interactions during the Crusades, thriving trade routes, the expansion of the Ottoman Empire, and the era of colonialism and exploration in the Middle East and North Africa.

Interesting facts about Arabic

Arabic stands as one of the oldest languages globally and ranks fourth in terms of the number of speakers, trailing only behind Chinese, Spanish, and English. Its significance extends beyond its linguistic realm, particularly among Muslims, for whom it serves as the language of the Quran. As Islam spread to various regions, Arabic’s influence grew, with many communities adopting it for both religious and practical purposes, even in areas where it didn’t go on to become the primary language

From Roman numerals to Arabic numbers

One of the most influential Muslim scholars, Muhammed ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi, left an indelible mark on the English language. His work introduced concepts like “algorithm” and “algebra,” while also popularizing the Hindu-Arabic numerals we use today, marking a significant shift from the cumbersome Roman numerals.

Curious about the connections between Arabic and other languages? Then dive into our articles exploring the fascinating links between Arabic and French, Hebrew, Italian, Spanish, and Persian!

Oh, and by the way…

Want to hear native speakers using words like qahwa and sukkar in real life? Dive into Playaling’s interactive videos to see them in context, or use our Cloze Listen and Check Comprehension exercises to train your ear.

With Playaling, you’ll dive into any major Arabic dialect or MSA. Our diverse range of videos has it all—from everyday conversations and cultural moments to music videos, TV and movie clips, influencer content, news broadcasts, and inspiring talks.

Our interactive captions let you tap any word for instant translations, context, and audio. So, real Arabic content becomes accessible with just a click. Miss something? No problem—rewind and listen as often as you need, or hover over subtitles for quick definitions.